Vayakhel-Pikudei

The Influence of a Great Person

Departing from Moshe Rabbeinu
Immediately after being instructed to build the Mishkan, the Torah writes, "And the entire congregation went out, from in front of Moshe". Why does the Torah feel that it is necessary to mention this seemingly insignificant detail of departing from Moshe?

The Torah, at the end of Parashat Ki Tisa, tells us that when Moshe Rabbeinu descended from Har Sinai with the luchot, the face of Moshe Rabbeinu shone. The Targum Yonatan explains further and says that the shine of Moshe Rabbeinu's face came from the shechina. 

This encounter with Moshe Rabbeinu left an impression on bnei yisrael. They saw with their own eyes how it was possible for a mortal human being to become elevated to the extent that Hashem's shechina was apparent on his face. After forty days of fasting and being with Hashem on Har Sinai, Moshe Rabbeinu was elevated to the highest level that a human being can attain and was a paradigm to the rest of klal yisrael of the high spiritual levels that it is possible to achieve. 

And it was at this moment specifically that it was most appropriate to command klal yisrael regarding two mitzvot whose purpose and function is to bring shechina into this world; Shabbat and the Mishkan. 

Emulating Moshe Rabbeinu
Returning to our original question, we can now understand the emphasis that the Torah gave to bnei yisrael going out from the presence of Moshe Rabbeinu, after hearing the instruction of Shabbat and the Mishkan. The encounter of bnei yisrael with Moshe Rabbeinu made an impression on them, and bnei yisrael also wanted to experience this level of kedusha and closeness with Hashem. Bnei Yisrael were not merely going out, they were rushing to implement the Mishkan and trying also to elevate their level of kedusha and closeness with Hashem, which they saw in Moshe Rabbeinu. Just by being in the proximity of Moshe had a positive effect on them, and bnei yisrael wanted to emulate Moshe Rabbeinu's ways and deeds. 

The Proximity of an Adam Gadol
We see from this that being in the proximity of an Adam gadol, a great person, influences and elevates the neshama of all who are in his presence. And the way to determine if a person is truly an adam gadol is if people are positively influenced by merely being in his presence. Chazal teaches us that we should endeavour to see our Rabbanim and Chachamim, because they understand that even just seeing a great person will elevate a person, and all the more so learning Torah from him.

May we all merit to learn from, and become influenced by, our Rabbanim and Chachamim and ultimately merit more kedusha and closeness to Hashem.

Shabbat Shalom!